Pankisi

Tim Brederecke & Maximilian Mann

The Pankisi Valley is usually a quiet place
in northern Georgia. Located between the mountains of the Caucasus and the
Alazani River, nine villages form the community of Pankisi. But by the calm
appearance of this beautiful landscape, one would never know that the small
region near the Chechen border was internationally known as “The Valley of
Terror”. During the Chechen crisis in the 90s, the valley was a safe haven for
refugees but also a hiding place for smugglers and militants. The American
government even speculated Al-Qaida forces being in the surrounding mountains,
and in 2016 about 50 young men from the local villages joined ISIS in
Syria.
The whole region still suffers from this bad
reputation. About 8000 people live in the local villages, the majority of them
being Kists – a very hospitable Muslim minority which originally fled from
Chechnya around 200 years ago. Despite their challenging past, most villagers
dissociate themselves from radical beliefs and try to attract investors for the
valley. Slowly but surely change is coming to the region around the Alazani
River. Guesthouses, cultural events and traditional craftsmanship bring
economic growth and stability – a foundation for a better future.